Transfers and Rumours 2011 > 2012

[roundabout]

Schleck is a climber who likes big mountains and long races. I don't really see why he should abandon Ardennes for say Paris-Nice or Romandie or Castilla y Leon (neither of which had a course he could win on this year) just because he "needs" to win a stage race.

 

[Duartista]

I agree - in short stage races the TT is relatively more important (except Catalunya this year, for obvious reasons). The stage race best suited to him is the Giro (by some distance), but unfortunately the chances of him racing it are around zero for the foreseeable future.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

taht is besides the point. Other riders ride the stages races with intentions to do well and still attempt to do well at the ardennes. Why should schleck be different? Why not attempt at least to do well at both. Instead of taking the easy route.

 

[just some guy]

Winning and knowing how to win is clearly Andy problem, then riding with Fraänk and then ITT.

Much better to practice these things in week long stage races to win the one race he wants to win, but Andy seems to Lazy - Gifted Kids pffff

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Winning and knowing how to win is clearly Andy problem, then riding with Fraänk and then ITT.

Much better to practice these things in week long stage races to win the one race he wants to win, but Andy seems to Lazy - Gifted Kids pffff

yeah, if he rode these races properly, I'm sure he would become a better rider.

In hindsight I'm pretty glad andy didn't win the tour. I can't say I'm a fan at all. Or at least how he tackles the season.

 

[Midnightfright]

yeah, if he rode these races properly, I'm sure he would become a better rider.

In hindsight I'm pretty glad andy didn't win the tour. I can't say I'm a fan at all. Or at least how he tackles the season.

I think part of his problem is he keeps on doing very well at the tour without winning it, so I believe in his mind this is indication that he is preparing the right way and he just needs to tweek this or improve on that maybe have a little better luck and he will win. As much as I like Andy as a rider and character o think the best thing that could happen to have an epic failure of a year so he can realise its not his regimen that's making him competitve at the tour its that his talents allow him to be competitve inspite of his regimen.

As much as Andy is despised and mocked round here I think the majority of posters would agree he's the 2nd best climber in the world and I'm very interested so see if teaming up with Bruyneel will see a more focused Baby Schleck.

 

[vala-vala]

Vini Farnese in Roubaix/Flanders 2012.

Are you think that the sign of Pippo Pozzato can get an invitation for Farnese Vini to the greatest classiscs (Roubaix/RVV)??????
I hope, but....

 

[Parrulo]

Are you think that the sign of Pippo Pozzato can get an invitation for Farnese Vini to the greatest classiscs (Roubaix/RVV)??????
I hope, but....

i sure hope they get invited. even tho most people criticize him i still think pozzato is a great classics talent, much better then thor hushovd that gets hyped like if he was some sort of god of the cobblestones. . .

 

[taiwan]

Are you think that the sign of Pippo Pozzato can get an invitation for Farnese Vini to the greatest classiscs (Roubaix/RVV)??????
I hope, but....

Don't know if his stock is that high at the moment, but they could do much worse in terms of choice of wildcards. Don't know if any other riders are capable of doing anything. Gatto?

 

[jens_attacks]

Are you think that the sign of Pippo Pozzato can get an invitation for Farnese Vini to the greatest classiscs (Roubaix/RVV)??????
I hope, but....

with all these mergers it's kind of impossible not to.
but yes i think he will be there and he will prove that he deserves it.the move to farnese was very good,he needs a reset.

 

[Midnightfright]

i sure hope they get invited. even tho most people criticize him i still think pozzato is a great classics talent, much better then thor hushovd that gets hyped like if he was some sort of god of the cobblestones. . .

Thor 'the god of cobblestone overhype' Hushovd. Has a nice ring to it doesn't it.

 

[CasperVg]

i sure hope they get invited. even tho most people criticize him i still think pozzato is a great classics talent, much better then thor hushovd that gets hyped like if he was some sort of god of the cobblestones. . .

I'd say they're about equal at the moment but clearly Pozzato has a lot more margin to become better; after all Hushovd @ 33 y/o is beginning to enter the twilight of his carreer imo. His Tour stagewins were quite nice, but for the rest his season has been rather lacklustre. Perhaps that can change if he wins the WC again?

 

[Midnightfright]

I'd say they're about equal at the moment but clearly Pozzato has a lot more margin to become better; after all Hushovd @ 33 y/o is beginning to enter the twilight of his carreer imo. His Tour stagewins were quite nice, but for the rest his season has been rather lacklustre. Perhaps that can change if he wins the WC again?

I think he has a big chance at the worlds but am worried that EBH will ruin his chances working for Thor.I would be having a nice bet on Eddie if he was guarnteed a free role.

 

[hrotha]

Winner Andrew

Runnerup Andrew

 

[El Pistolero]

Hushovd is a way better cyclist than Pozzato. 10 Tour stages(including a cobbled one), has worn the yellow jersey, 2 point jerseys in the Tour and one in the Vuelta, Omloop het Volk, Gent-Wevelgem, World championship.

Filippo Pozzato only has Milan-San Remo and the Omloop het Volk. And despite his talent he hardly ever wins a race...

 

[Eric8-A]

Are you think that the sign of Pippo Pozzato can get an invitation for Farnese Vini to the greatest classiscs (Roubaix/RVV)??????
I hope, but....

I'd say yes. I mean if NetApp got invited to Paris-Roubaix this year, why not Farnese Vini with Pippo?

 

[El Pistolero]

I'd say yes. I mean if NetApp got invited to Paris-Roubaix this year, why not Farnese Vini with Pippo?

I wouldn't be so sure about the Ronde though. It would be pretty cruel of Flanders Classics to take away the pleasure of throwing beer on Pozzato though. And I speak in jest of course.

 

[Eric8-A]

I wouldn't be so sure about the Ronde though. It would be pretty cruel of Flanders Classics to take away the pleasure of throwing beer on Pozzato though. And I speak in jest of course.

I'd figure he chose to go to Farnese because he's confident they'd get invited to the classics. But that's just my opinion.

 

[roundabout]

I don't know. They don't have a northern classicky feel to their team. But neither did A&S apart from Paolini.

 

[luckyboy]

Surely they'll bring in one guy who is decent on the cobbles. Must be someone available. How long is Paolini's contract at Katusha?

 

[The Hitch]

he needs more dedication to the sport - full stop.
Would help him a great deal imo.

Dont agree. This isnt a sport where talent alone gets you through. You need to kill yourself every day in training just to make it to the startline of a race like the Tour. And this year he was good enough to fly away from everyone but big bro and Gilbert in Liege and come 2nd in Tour with awesome 60k itt.

I dont think lack of the dedication would get those results.

 

[El Pistolero]

Dont agree. This isnt a sport where talent alone gets you through. You need to kill yourself every day in training just to make it to the startline of a race like the Tour. And this year he was good enough to fly away from everyone but big bro and Gilbert in Liege and come 2nd in Tour with awesome 60k itt.

I dont think lack of the dedication would get those results.

Oscar Freire doesn't train a lot.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Dont agree. This isnt a sport where talent alone gets you through. You need to kill yourself every day in training just to make it to the startline of a race like the Tour. And this year he was good enough to fly away from everyone but big bro and Gilbert in Liege and come 2nd in Tour with awesome 60k itt.

I dont think lack of the dedication would get those results.

Obviously the guy trains, I never said he didn't.
Like I said the guy needs more dedication in general. Half ars'ing the stages races in the calender season does him no benefits.

Mentally I don't agree he is dedicated enough to he sport.

 

[Eric8-A]

Lancaster to GreenEdge

 

[Parrulo]

Obviously the guy trains, I never said he didn't.
Like I said the guy needs more dedication in general. Half ars'ing the stages races in the calender season does him no benefits.

Mentally I don't agree he is dedicated enough to he sport.

i agree with you, tho i wouldn't go as far as saying he isn't dedicated enough to the sport.

andy is a gigantic talent his only problem is that currently there is another gigantic talent that lives and breads cycling and is strong enough mentaly to put himself through a world of pain to get the win, something andy imo isn't capable of doing, yet.

also the fact that the other talent i talk about may be a little bit more talented does not work in his favour either